The miracle of South Africa’s liberation, the reason why we have a democracy and not an ochlocracy, is simply that the poor, who make up the vast majority of our populace, are hardworking, moderate, sincere, humane and reasonable to the point of self-destruction. Ours Was Dawn by playwright Monde Wani, who performs with his wife, gospel singer, Nomsa Wani, is a two-hander depicting that backbone of the struggle.

The Wanis are fine performers and the couple plays James and Nodoli, two shack dwellers in the Eastern Cape, who meet and marry in the 1970s, see liberation come, but find they must wait another 15 years before receiving a house and regaining their dignity. In the emotional climax of the piece, James protests at a housing imbizo that he has been prejudiced on the government waiting lists, because he was not one of the comrades, yet his son was killed in a riot and “I suffered too”.

Originally commissioned last year by the University of St John's & St Benedict in Minneapolis, USA, for Martin Luther Week, the influence of the theatre of the church is apparent. The result is a sort of theatrical church bazaar. It opens with a riveting, poetic prologue about the dawn of democracy. It then moves into postmodern storytelling with the fourth wall removed and the actors as themselves including the audience in the play. Interspersed with a dramatic narrative are musical numbers, a piece of edutainment around HIV/AIDS, and it concludes with an audience participation dance and sing-along to celebrate life.